Chapter 5

What had occurred that she was unaware? Both Knight and Bolton had been outside the Assembly Rooms, but this Mr. Godfrey had not. Why was he calling?

As she strolled out of the library, Carina turned toward the front parlor so that she could get a glimpse of their guest.

He was currently standing in the entry and was rather nondescript and quite sober in his expression.

After slipping into the parlor, she waited until she could hear the footfalls and then slipped off her slippers so that she did not make a sound as she crossed the thick carpet runner in the corridor and made her way back to the library, passing the butler on her way. He began to speak but Carina held a finger to her lips so that he remained quiet.

The butler shook his head and continued on his way.

As she eased closer to the library, she pressed her ear to the door in hopes of hearing something, but they were talking too quietly.

Blast!

Well, she would just make them tell her once Mr. Godfrey was gone. Afterall, she did have a right to know since it likely involved her. What other reason would Clarkston's friend be here? Especially the night that Clarkston had insulted her person.

Returning to the parlor, she slipped her slippers back on and paced until she heard the man being let out and then rushed to the library.

"Why was he here and what was so important that the conversation needed to be private?"

"As it was private, I will not share the details," Knight answered. "If we wished for you to know, we would have allowed you to remain."

Carina gasped. Knight had never spoken to her in such a tone before and it was most aggravating.

As he was no help, Carina smiled at Bolton and settled beside him on the settee. "You do not mind telling me, do you?"

"Eyelashes," Bolton instructed.

"What do you mean?"

"If you are going to sweet talk or flirt the answers from my lips, at least flutter your eyelashes."

Carina attempted to do so then smiled. "You know you want to tell me, Lord Bolton…Angelo."

She was trying her best to flirt with him, but Carina had never flirted with anyone before. She was also attempting to flirt with a gentleman who was on the receiving end of such nightly, and from far more experienced misses.

"Please," she pouted and looked at him through her lashes.

"Good God, thank goodness I think of you almost as a sister for I might not have been able to resist your charms, Carina."

She blew out a huff and leaned back against the settee and crossed her arms over her chest. "You are immune, and I have no answers." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Was it so horrible? I've never attempted flirting before."

Felix choked on his brandy and crossed to the sideboard and refilled his glass.

"I do believe you flirted with the wrong man," Bolton whispered.

But did she dare flirt with Knight. She had been spurning his advances for the past six months. If she toyed with him now, he may take it as encouragement, and one must never encourage a rake. Attempting such with Knight was far too dangerous because it would also leave her vulnerable to his charms.

Still, she must try.

Carina rose from the settee and cradled her glass of brandy. "Would you mind adding a bit more to my glass, Felix?" she tried to ask in a low sultry tone, not certain if she achieved such.

She placed her hand on his upper arm, surprised to find it to be hard muscle. He had never appeared overly muscular, but her touch revealed the truth.

"Perhaps you have had enough spirits for one evening, Carina."

"Since when do you decide what is best for me?" she pouted.

"Neither pouting, fluttering of eyelashes, nor touching will work on me, Carina."

"Oh, he lies." Bolton barked out laughter.

Knight glared at Bolton, which only encouraged Carina. Perhaps she shouldn't drink more brandy, but she also did not care. "A bargain. You tell me why Mr. Godfrey was here, and I will tell you something."

He turned toward her and lifted the glass out of Carina's hand. "I do not need you to tell me anything."

"That is not fair." Carina stomped her foot and this time her pout was real. "Why are you so difficult?"

"I am not, and if I were not an honorable man…"

His blue eyes darkened as Knight looked down at her. Carina's breath hitched and for a moment she wondered if he might kiss her. She willed him to kiss her even though she knew better than to want such. He was a rake and a rogue, nearly as bad as Bolton.

Knight took a step back and blew out a sigh.

"I was beginning to wonder if I would need to step in to chaperone you two. Something no one would have ever expected me to do," Bolton observed. "Even if I told, nobody would believe me."

"Hang it all, Bolton." Felix thrust his fingers through his hair and stomped away from Carina.

Had she made him angry? That had not been her intention. Or was it Bolton's teasing?

Either way, this evening had not gone well. She had nearly humiliated herself and still did not have answers.

"Bolton is facing Clarkston at dawn," Knight announced. "Godfrey is Clarkston's second, I am Bolton's."

Carina stiffened and looked from one to the other. "Surely you jest."

"Quite serious."

"Why the blazes did Bolton challenge Clarkston?" she demanded.

"Blazes? Really Carina. First flirting and now cursing. I do not think you should be allowed brandy again."

She glared at Bolton. "I will do and say what I please." Anger boiled that they could be so idiotic while censuring her!

"If it had not been Bolton, it would have been me," Knight declared. "The man all but asked to be called out for what he did to you."

For a moment, she was without words and even though her mouth hung open in shock, Carina couldn't force it to close no matter how much she willed it.

How dare they put themselves in danger on account of what had happened tonight. It was not as if she were harmed, just insulted and it was over.

"Neither of you should face him. I was the one who stepped outside for air and left myself vulnerable."

"A miss should be safe even in those circumstances," Knight argued. "He needs to be taught a lesson."

Carina sucked in a breath. "I still forbid you or Bolton to face him. I shall not see you injured, or worse. Have you forgotten that Bolton is the only son and heir to Lord Dargate?"

"I have not forgotten, and he will not be harmed, I promise," Knight assured her.

"You can make no such promises, as you well know."

"I had thought you had more confidence in my skill, Carina." Bolton placed a hand over his heart. "Your words wound me."

She snorted. "It would take far more words from my lips to even begin to shake your confidence, Angelo."

Felix hated it when Carina referred to Bolton as Angelo, as it was a familiarity that he wished they did not share.

He also hated that she had first flirted with Bolton and an ache of jealousy churned in his gut.

Of course, Bolton would be the first on whom she would attempt to use her charms. He was handsome, titled and a rake. And even though Bolton hadn't succumbed, Felix had from across the room. Then when she had approached him and placed her hand on his arm, he almost told her everything right there.

He had also nearly kissed her and had been hard pressed not to pull her into his arms. Had Bolton not been present and watching them, Felix would have done just that.

He hadn't wanted to tell Carina why Godfrey had been there, but also knew that she would persist until one of them answered her questions. Now, she was angry.

"All will be well," Felix promised.

"Again, you cannot promise that it will be," she yelled.

"It is done. If we back out now, it is our honor that will be lost," Bolton explained.

"Better loss of honor than be dead and an idiot."

"Again, she insults us Knight. What has happened to the sweet miss we both adore."

"She became fed up with men who thought they knew better than her," Carina answered. "Though I find it unlikely that you adore me."

With that, Carina rolled her eyes and nearly stomped to the decanter of brandy and splashed some into her glass.

"Do you not think that you have had enough?" Knight asked.

Carina arched an eyebrow in challenge to his statement.

"You are not acting yourself, Carina."

"How do you know?" she demanded. "Perhaps this is the true me that I keep hidden but am unable to do so because the two of you have lost your bloody minds."

"She cares for us Knight," Bolton decided. "She has cursed twice, flirted and is now yelling at us while she drinks her second glass of brandy. Yes, that is what it is. She cares for us and fears for our health."

"She did not know what we were about when she started flirting," Felix reminded Bolton.

"True, but she hated not knowing since she had already surmised that it did pertain to her."

"Yes, of course, that would explain her fluttering her eyelashes at you."

"But only because I asked, as she has no practice in flirting," Bolton explained.

"Aren't all women born with that natural talent?" Felix asked.

"No. It is learned and only by those who wish to practice subterfuge to get their way. Our dear Carina had never needed to employ such a tactic, which was why she forgot about the eyelashes part."

"That is a relief," Felix muttered before taking a sip of his brandy. "I rather like that Carina hasn't learned the art of flirtation and deception and I think I do prefer her cursing and yelling."

"Yes, it is rather refreshing," Bolton agreed. "If only more misses would do so, Society would be far more enjoyable."

"I am standing right here!" Carina reminded them, brown eyes flaming with irritation. "Cease talking about me as if I were gone from the room."

At the sound of voices in the corridor, Carina stiffened as she sent a warning glare to both Felix and Bolton. "Do not breathe a word of tonight, for if you do, I will never forgive either of you."

Her tone was so cold and steady that Felix knew without a doubt that she meant every word.

"Is all well?" Lady Lydell asked as she stepped into the library.

"Yes," Carina answered sweetly.

"Did you truly leave because of a headache?"

"It was so stifling in there, Gaia, that I could not remain another moment."

Gaia looked her friend up and down. "Why did you change your gown?"

Felix held his breath. He had never known Carina to lie. Would she do so now?

"I foolishly tore it and changed so as not to cause more damage."

Well, it had been foolish for her to be outside without a companion or guardian, so Carina had managed to tell the truth without providing a full accounting of the evening. He would need to remember that for the future, assuming he ever needed the full truth from her on any topic.